Journal
SUBSTANCE USE & MISUSE
Volume 51, Issue 10, Pages 1297-1306Publisher
TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC
DOI: 10.3109/10826084.2016.1168443
Keywords
Alcohol; pre-drinking; youth; risky drinking
Categories
Funding
- Australian National Preventive Health Agency [140ALL2011]
- Australian Government under the Substance Misuse Prevention and Service Improvement Grants Fund
- Healthway [24106] Funding Source: researchfish
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Background: Pre-drinking has been linked to subsequent heavy drinking and the engagement in multiple risky behaviors. Objectives: The present study examined a group of adolescents who recently had a big night out to determine whether there were differences in their pre-drinking behavior based on age, gender, geographic location, and social setting. Methods: Participants (n = 351, aged 16-19) representing the heaviest 20-25% of drinkers in their age group were recruited using nonrandom sampling from metropolitan (Melbourne, Sydney, Perth) or regional (Bunbury) locations across Australia and administered a survey by a trained interviewer. Results: Almost half the sample pre-drank (n = 149), most commonly at a friend's house. Those aged 18-19 were more likely to pre-drink, and did so at higher quantities compared to their younger counterparts. Males and females reported similar pre-drinking duration, quantity and amount spent on alcohol. Compared to those in cities, regional participants consumed greater quantities over longer periods of time. Two-thirds of participants consumed alcohol in excess of national guidelines during their pre-drinking session. These participants were more likely to nominate price as a motivation to pre-drink and were less likely to report that someone else provided them alcohol. Conclusions: This study sheds light on the pre-drinking habits of a population of young risky drinkers, and highlights the need for policy makers to address this form of drinking to reduce alcohol-related harm among young people.
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